NHTSA Complaint #10395480 — 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA

I FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL AND WAS HEADING STRAIGHT FOR A TELEPHONE POLE. I AWOKE AT LAST SECOND AND MANAGED TO SWERVE TO AVOID HITTING POLE HEAD ON, IN WHICH CASE I WOULD PROBABLY BE DEAD. DOCTORS SAID I WAS LUCKY TO BE ALIVE EVEN THOUGH I WORE MY SEATBELT B/C THE CAR HIT THE POLE AND THEN FLIPPED OVER 2 OR 3 TIMES BEFORE LANDING ON ITS HOOD WITH ME TRAPPED INSIDE. THE JAWS OF LIFE WERE USED TO HELP PULL MY PASSENGER DOOR OFF ENOUGH TO GET ME OUT OF CAR ONTO A FLATBOARD, ONCE THEY HAD ME IN A NECKBRACE, THAT IS. THE REASON I AM MAKING A COMPLAINT IS BECAUSE I LEASED THIS CAR AT A VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE RATE AND WAS MORE THAN 75% DONE PAYING IT OFF AND NOW I HAVE NOTHING. THE '02 CHEVROLET IMPALA HAD FRONT AIRBAGS, (AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID WHEN THEY SOLD ME THE CAR), HOWEVER, NEITHER DEPLOYED IN THE ACCIDENT AND I SUSTAINED A SERIOUS INJURY TO MY WHOLE LEFT SIDE. MY HEAD AND SHOULDER WENT RIGHT THROUGH THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW, HITTING THE PAVEMENT, AND I HAVE NERVE DAMAGE NOW B/C OF THIS. MY LEFT ARM IS NOW TINGLING AND GOING NUMB, WHICH COMES DOWN FROM A PINCHED NERVE IN MY NECK. I WILL NEED TO GO TO PHYSICAL THERAPY ONCE I AM ABLE. I AM ON HIGH DOSE PAIN MEDS. RIGHT NOW AND CAN BARELY WALK. I NOW WONDER IF THE AIRBAGS HAD BEEN DEPLOYED ALREADY SOMETIME B/F I BOUGHT THE CAR, PUT BACK IN USED, AND THAT IS WHY NEITHER CAME OUT WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE. I AM THINKING ABOUT CONTACTING A LAWYER REGARDING THIS SITUATION. DO YOUR HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS ON THIS? THANK YOU AND PLEASE GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. AS TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE IN THIS SITUATION. *TR